We sometimes need to stop a process to diagnose a system problem, such as removing Spyware or computer viruses. One of the easiest yet most efficient way to accomplish this is to use the built-in Task Manager in Windows XP or Windows Vista. Here’s how you do it:

Press “Alt+Ctrl+Delete.”

Click on “Task Manager“. You can also launch the Task Manager instantly if you press Ctrl + Shift + ESC simultaneously. This is much easier than accessing it from Ctrl + Alt + Delete or the taskbar. It works for both Windows XP or Windows Vista.

3. Select the process that you want to stop, then click on “End Task“.

It’s advised not to stop a system process. Stopping a system process can cause the computer to hang or freeze up.

Comments

I just got off the phone with my granddaughter who managed to get infected with sysguard.As mentioned earlier, she is unable to run her task manager or regedit.

But..

By rebooting in safe mode I was able to talk her through regedit and get rid of most of the bad stuff. She can now get on the internet and do a few things, but it’s pretty slow. She’ll be bringing me her laptop later this afternoon so I can do some hands on repair. I’ve been working (professionally) with Windows ever since the early MSDOS days, so I’ll notice things that your average user won’t see.

She’s running Vista Home Basic and Firefox (not sure what version). A good starting place for XP/Vista/Firefox users is to reboot in ‘Safe mode with networking’ and start Firefox in safe mode (start->programs->Mozilla Firefox->Safe mode). I can’t guarantee this, but since booting in safe mode bypassed sysguard, taking these steps should allow you to get to a number of websites that explain how to remove it.

A word of warning.. If you can’t find a free utility that removes this (most freebies will detect, but not remove malware) you’ll have to do it manually, which requires running regedit. If regedit scares you PLEASE get help from somebody who knows what they’re doing.

ok so three days ago i get these pops up from Vista Antispywear 2010 that will NOT stop coming up every few minutes. everything was fine on my computer till these arrived and since i have not been able to run usual tasks on my computer. Im sure these pop up and warnings are just tactics to make me freak out and buy their product. that or run me down to death with these pop ups. i cant find where i can delete it and i need to get rid of this ASAP. can anyone pleeeassee help me?

Hi, stupid XP Antispyware 2010 has hacked my computer. It won’t allow me to go on the internet. I tried ending the process thing but that didn’t work annd i have no idea how to search for its files to delete them. I restored my computer which made things worse because now my desktop has dissappeared and i have no toolbar. Can anyone help? please

Just start your computer in safe mode (f8) and from there do system restore – try to restore your computer to the earliest day before you got the virus and it will work. from there just run any of your spyware antivirus to scan/clean your computer.
I have just done it and my computer is back to normal

“XP ANTISPYWARE 2010″ SUCCESS – Thanks to Doc DM, (May 20, 2009). As with the rest of you I was driven almost nuts by this thing. One thing that made me suspicious of the offer was that they had a wrongly spelled word in their heading! Very unprofessional. Enough said!
Following Doc DM’s instructions I clicked “Start > All programs > System tools > System Restore” and followed the instructions from there. My last restore date was 7 days back so I ran that and bingo! – no more malicious virus. Brilliant, Doc. Thank you so much!
MikeNZ

XP Smart Security 2010 is diabolical.
Can anyone help? I went in under safe mode and did the system restore to a point before the virus arrived but it did not work.
I can only get onto the internet under my wife’s username. Downloading Spyhunter or any other detection utility is not allowed unless I am logged on as Administrator, and under Administrator I cannot access the internet. So I’m stuck in a sinister loop. I performed a full scan, which takes hours, and it found zero infected files, which cannot be true. I’m ready to throw this computer into the ocean (i.e., recycle it) and go live in a cave.
Please help me, OB1 Kinobee, you’re my only hope.

I have been fighting with Security Tool for the past 16 hours, I have tried everything to get rid of it nothing is working and the program will not allow me to open system restore or task manager. If anyone has ANY other options I am all ears PLEASE PLEASE help me!

dear god in heaven i would like to get my hands around the necks of the filthy rotten swine who infected my life with this xp smart security plague…please someone stop me from tracking the culprits down and committing mass murder and tell me how i can get rid of it!

Hello Doc. You are a genuine hero! I followed your instructions and got rid of the bugger that infected my computer. May the Gods of all Religions bless you with a great day. You have done the deserving good deed in my opinion.

I have the antivirus virus now on 2 laptops thanks to my son and youtube, did a system restore on one in safe mode and the whole thing crashed so the computer wont even start up, the other laptop wont even load up in safe mode and nothing will open, marvelous, will keep looking on her for help but at the mo nothing works, may the maker of this virus have a painful life …….

I don’t know which virus I have on my computer. One day it just stopped working. I turned it on and it keeps saying “Windows Explorer has stopped working and will restart” but it never does. There are no icons on my desktop, I can’t get to the start menu, and task manager will come up but will not let me end any processes. I can, however, use it to go to the internet, but not any files or programs associated with windows. Also, safe mode does the same thing and it won’t let me do a system restore. Is there any help for me besides a full system recovery using the disks, which by the way I don’t have.

The first step of deleting the malware processes is to use task manager to find and kill those processes. but the malware prevents task manager from running giving a bogus message about how it was infected.
So how can i kill those processes another way that can go around the block they have on task manager?
I cant even download spyware removal since they also have blocked IE, Firefox and Chrome.
Im really up a creek here. I have removed viruses before but I am stuck.

some how i got a thing called antispywaregaurde on my computer it stoped me from using the internet connection and from using task manerger i went though the system try to find the software to delete it and i could not find it anywhere in the end after many hour of getting annoyed i found it hidden calling itself as another name was a basterd to get rid of but i still coannot use internet explorer i can still use google chrome though and task manerger and it is trying to attack my other propper virus protection program, avast realy dont know what to do know.

Mr Dolinicola’s comment was the only thing that saved me from a virus… I located the file but it wouldn’t allow me to delete it, and I couldn’t kill the process because it blocked task manager. None of the manual removal methods I found online helped, because the virus would block those too. Once I used Mr Dolinicola’s technique to kill the process, I was allowed to delete the file and my computer is virus-free.

To kill the process, go to the task manager. When you see the Win 7 Home Security 2011 task running, right-click to find “go to process” and click. You will be taken to the ‘processes’ section and the process running the Win 7 Home Security 2011, right click and stop or end the process.
You have to do this first before anything else.
In most cases, if you’ve killed the process, you can at least get your malware software to properly perform a scan without the virus interfering.

guyes
make sure your anti virus is upto date
and download malwarebytes and superantispyware
also couldn’t hurt to have
spybot search and destroy
they should fix almost every problem
also download spyware blaster
if you still have problems
run in safe mode by rebooting and pressing f8 while is /before it loads and run as admin
if they find anything that looks bad quarinte it and reboot and scan again
also fake antiviruses programs that fix em and tdss killer can save u
then all should be sweet…

had my problems in the past and have done my research too much
but lately the computer shop had problems fixing my computer as files were moved and hidden and still are bustards took em 5 -6 days when they normally take 1-2
looks like Im doing a clean install, grrrrrr
cheers Richo

Ya I know of this. The thing is I tried to download a game. And my computer said was not able to do so. Then i was left with a file that says downloading…… NOW it will not display in the window for there is no box that says it’s downloading. It’s trying to download but it can’t go forth from there. So I’m stuck with 3gs on of nothing or restart (maybe, and I just powerd the damn thing on) If not go into safe mode……..

I am running an Acer Aspire on Windows Vista. I am using Google Chrome but am having many problems freezing up. I have to reboot often & I mean a hard reboot. I am not able to quit Google Chrome from my task manager. I can end process all day but it never closes & as long as it is open I can not open another browser. I have no choice but turn my pc off & back on. Please help !

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